Bill Brenner

For A Brother and Sister

by Bill Brenner October 13, 2010 Faith

Two very dear friends of mine are in crisis. I’m not saying who they are because it’s no one’s business. But I’ll tell you what: I’ve had a lot of friends come and go in my life. Two of the closest friends died on me. It took a long, long time before I was willing to even consider getting close to anyone ever again outside my family. These two managed to break into my hardened…  [Read More]

Love Hurts, Love Stings, Love Endures

by Bill Brenner October 12, 2010 Family

Yesterday I remembered something the priest said during his Homily at our wedding: “You marry the person you think you know, and spend the rest of your lives really getting to know each other.” Another priest at another wedding eight years later told the bride and groom: “Your job is to get each other into Heaven.” Mood music: [spotify:track:6iCCvEH7xhkcsFTXnLVLIK] Sometimes you get to know each other and you don’t like what you see. Then things…  [Read More]

Random Thought on Leadership

by Bill Brenner October 11, 2010 Communication Skills

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership these past few days. I’ve known some good ones and some bad ones. Observation: When you’re all about loving people and helping them along, that’s leadership. When you’re all about power and getting people to do your bidding, that’s middle management. I’ve been a middle manager. I’ve met some who are the salt of the Earth. But I sucked at it. Most of the time, it’s lonely in…  [Read More]

Back in the Real World, Emotionally Drained

by Bill Brenner October 11, 2010 Depression

I’m back from a very powerful, emotionally draining weekend. It was absolutely wonderful. I came closest as I ever have to crying a few times. More on that later. For now, here’s the talk I gave Saturday morning. I’ve embedded no links and all typos and rough edges are included. I’m sure you’ll give me a pass on that this time. Everything my new brothers shared this weekend stays between us. I’m only posting this…  [Read More]

Gone Fishing (Sort Of)

by Bill Brenner October 7, 2010 Faith

I’m going on a little sabbatical in a couple hours. A weekend Catholic retreat, actually. I’m part of the team putting it on. Which means this is the last post from me until Sunday night or Monday. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0FP0JSvdHY&fs=1&hl=en_US] It’ll be the longest I’ve stayed off the grid in a very long time. Well, I will have the BlackBerry nearby, but that’s just in case of emergencies. For new readers, this is probably a…  [Read More]

The Gratitude List, Part 3

by Bill Brenner October 7, 2010 Gratitude

Yesterday was another reminder that there’s a lot to be grateful for. I’m surrounded by so many people that have helped me heal and keep me clawing the way forward. Here are more examples. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t43VgJ4U9_Q&fs=1&hl=en_US] First, I should flag the rest of my list in two earlier posts: The Healers (Adventures in Step 9) and The Gratitude List. Here are the latest additions to the list: Theresa and Rich Arel: The Arels are…  [Read More]

The Inconvenience of Death

by Bill Brenner October 6, 2010 Fear and anxiety

It happens whenever someone dies. After the initial shock passes, you start thinking about when the wake and funeral will take place — and whether it will get in the way of your work-family-entertainment plans. It’s a sucky way to be, but it’s human nature. Today’s mood music is very appropriate: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2FX4aYo3dE&fs=1&hl=en_US] My great-grandmother died hours before my 25th birthday. Her daughter — my Nana — died on Columbus Day weekend in 2003. Papa died…  [Read More]

The Pedophile, Part 3

by Bill Brenner October 6, 2010 Uncategorized

My father-in-law read my posts on the pedophile and posted a heated note on my Facebook page: “OK, YOU put this out there and say YOU have concern and wish to warn people he is on facebook. YET appear to be FEARFUL of naming this person for those of us who don’t know of whom you speak. If he is what you say then naming him will do no harm. Homeless, jobless? Where is he…  [Read More]

The Sponsor’s Lament

by Bill Brenner October 5, 2010 Addiction

I’ve gone from sponsoring four people in my OA 12-Step program to two, and one of them only e-mails once in awhile. I’m perfectly fine with that. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jX1KAKp78&fs=1&hl=en_US] I was a reluctant sponsor in the first place. I can barely take care of myself, after all.  Some days, it takes every ounce of my strength to keep from sliding off the wagon. But people in program came to me for help. I couldn’t…  [Read More]

The Trouble With Wanting It All, Part 2

by Bill Brenner October 4, 2010 Addiction

Overcoming fear and anxiety has been a beautiful thing. But it has not been without trouble along the way. In recent months I’ve taken on too much and I’ve paid a price. I’m entering a new phase of recovery where my ambitions are readjusted so they gibe with reality. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCzkT5H7Udg&fs=1&hl=en_US] I got into some of this stuff in last week’s “Say Hello to My New Limit” post. But when I wrote that, I…  [Read More]

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